Addis Ababa Science and Technology University

College of Electrical and Mechanical

Department of electrical and computer Engineering

Applied Electronics I , Solved problems

Q1. An a.c. voltage of peak value 20 V is connected in series with a silicon diode and load
resistance of 500 Ω. If the forward resistance of diode is 10 Ω, find :
(i)peak current through diode (ii)peak output voltage
What will be these values if the diode is assumed to be ideal ?
Solution :

Peak input voltage = 20 V, Forward resistance, rf = 10 Ω, Load resistance, RL=

500 Ω, Potential barrier voltage, V0 = 0.7 V
The diode will conduct during the positive half-cycles of a.c. input voltage only.
The equivalent circuit is shown in Fig.1(ii)

Fig. 1

(i) The peak current through the diode will occur at the instant when the input
voltage reaches positive peak i.e. Vin = VF = 20 V.

(ii) Peak output voltage :

Ideal Diode
Case:

Q3. Calculate the current through 48 Ω resistor in the circuit shown in Fig. 3 (i).
Assume the diodes to be of silicon and forward resistance of each diode is 1 Ω.

Fig. 3

Solution :

Diodes D1 and D3 are forward biased while diodes D2 and D4 are reverse
biased. We can, therefore, consider the branches containing diodes D2 and D4
as “open”. Replacing diodes D1 and D3 by their equivalent circuits and making
the branches containing diodes D2 and D4 open, we get the circuit shown in
Fig. 3 (ii). As we know for a silicon diode, the barrier voltage is 0.7 V.

Q5. Find the voltage VA in the circuit shown in Fig. 5 (i). Use simplified model.

Fig. 5
Solution :
It appears that when the applied voltage is switched on, both the diodes will turn
“on”. But that is not so. When voltage is applied, germanium diode (V0 = 0.3
V) will turn on first and a level of 0.3V is maintained across the parallel circuit.

The silicon diode never gets the opportunity to have 0.7 V across it and,
therefore, remains in open-circuit state as shown in Fig.5(ii).

Q6. Find VQ and ID in the network shown in Fig. 6(i). Use simplified model.

Fig. 6

Solution :
Replace the diodes by their simplified models. The resulting circuit will be as
shown in Fig. 6 (ii). By symmetry, current in each branch is ID so that current in
branch CD is 2ID. Applying Kirchhoff’s voltage law to the closed circuit
ABCDA, we have,

Q7. Determine current through each diode in the circuit shown in Fig. 7 (i). Use
simplified model. Assume diodes to be similar.
 Fig.7
Solution : The applied voltage forward biases each diode so that they
conduct current in the same direction. Fig. 7 (ii) shows the equivalent
circuit using simplified model. Referring to Fig. 7 (ii),

Q8. Determine the currents I1, I2 and I3 for the network shown in Fig. 8(i). Use
simplified model for the diodes.

Fig.
8
Solution :
As we can see in Fig. 8 (i) both diodes D1 and D2 are forward biased. Using
simplified model for the diodes, the circuit shown in Fig. 8(i) becomes the one
shown in Fig. 8 (ii).
Applying Kirchhoff’s voltage law to loop ABCDA in Fig. 8 (ii), we have,

Q9. Determine if the diode (ideal) in Fig. 9 (i) is forward biased or reverse biased.

Fig. 9

Solution :

Let us assume that diode in Fig.9 (i) is OFF i.e. it is reverse biased.

The circuit then becomes as shown in Fig. 9(ii). Referring to Fig. 9 (ii), we

have,

Now V1 – V2 = 2V is enough voltage to make the diode forward biased.

Therefore, our initial assumption was wrong, and diode is forward biased.

Q10. Determine the state of diode for the circuit shown in Fig. 10 (i) and find ID and VD .

Assume simplified model for the diode .

 Fig. 10

Solution :

Let us assume that the diode is ON. Therefore, we can replace the diode with a
0.7V battery as shown in Fig. 10 (ii). Referring to Fig.10 (ii), we have,

Since the diode current is negative, the diode must be OFF and the true value of
diode current is ID =0 mA. Hence our initial assumption was wrong.

In order to analyse the circuit properly, we should replace the diode in Fig. 10
(i) with an open circuit as shown in Fig.10(iii).

Fig.10 (iii)

voltage VD across the diode is :

We know that 0.7V is required to turn ON the diode. Since VD is only 0.4V, the
answer confirms that the diode is OFF.

Q11. The applied input a.c. power to a half-wave rectifier is 100 watts. The d.c.
output power obtained is 40 watts.
(i) What is the rectification efficiency ? (ii) What happens to remaining 60 watts
?
Solution :

(i)

(ii) 40% efficiency of rectification does not mean that 60% of power is lost in
the rectifier circuit. In fact, a crystal diode consumes little power due to its small
internal resistance. The 100 W a.c. power is contained as 50 watts in positive
half-cycles and 50 watts in negative half-cycles. The 50 watts in the negative
half-cycles are not supplied at all. Only 50 watts in the positive half-cycles are
converted into 40 watts.

Although 100 watts of a.c. power was supplied, the half-wave rectifier accepted
only 50 watts and converted it into 40 watts d.c. power. Therefore, it is
appropriate to say that efficiency of rectification is 40% and not 80% which is
power efficiency.

Q12. An a.c. supply of 230 V is applied to a half-wave rectifier circuit through

a transformer of turn ratio 10 : 1. Find (i) the output d.c. voltage and (ii) the
peak inverse voltage. Assume the diode to be ideal.

Fig. 1
Solution : Primary to secondary turns is

Max. Secondary voltage is

(i)
(ii) During the negative half-cycle of a.c. supply, the diode is reverse biased and
hence conducts no current. Therefore, the maximum secondary voltage appears
across the diode.

Q13. A crystal diode having internal resistance rf = 20Ω is used for half-wave
rectification. If the applied voltage v = 50 sin ω t and load resistance RL= 800 Ω,
find :
(i) Im, Idc, Irms (ii) a.c. power input and d.c. power output (iii) d.c. output
voltage (iv) efficiency of rectification.
Solution:

(i)

(ii)

(iii)
(iv)
Q14. A half-wave rectifier is used to supply 50V d.c. to a resistive load of
800 Ω. The diode has a resistance of 25 Ω. Calculate a.c. voltage required.

Solution :

Q15. A full-wave rectifier uses two diodes, the internal resistance of each diode
may be assumed constant at 20 Ω. The transformer r.m.s. secondary voltage
from centre tap to each end of secondary is 50 V and load resistance is 980 Ω.
Find : (i) the mean load current (ii) the r.m.s. value of load current.

Solution :

(i)

(ii)
Q16. In the centre-tap circuit shown in Fig. 2, the diodes are assumed to be
ideal i.e. having zero internal resistance. Find :(i) d.c. output voltage(ii) peak
inverse voltage (iii) rectification efficiency.
Fig. 2

Solution :
Primary to secondary turns, N1 / N2 = 5

(i) Average current, Idc =

(ii) The peak inverse voltage is equal to the maximum secondary voltage, i.e

(iii)

Q17. In the bridge type circuit shown in Fig. 3, the diodes are assumed to be ideal. Find : (i) d.c.
output voltage (ii) peak inverse voltage (iii) output frequency. Assume primary to secondary
turns to be 4.
 Fig.3

Solution :

Q18. Fig. 4(i) and Fig. 4 (ii) show the centre-tap and bridge type circuits having
the same load resistance and transformer turn ratio. The primary of each is
connected to 230V, 50 Hz supply. (i) Find the d.c. voltage in each case. (ii) PIV
for each case for the same d.c. output. Assume the diodes to be ideal.
 Fig. 4
Solution :
(i) DC output voltage : Centre-tap circuit :

Bridge circuit :

This shows that for the same secondary voltage, the d.c. output voltage of bridge
circuit is twice that of the centre-tap circuit

(ii) PIV for same d.c. output voltage :

The d.c. output voltage of the two circuits will be the same if Vm (i.e. max.
voltage utilized by each circuit for conversion into d.c.) is the same. For this to
happen, the turn ratio of the transformers should be as shown in Fig. 5.
 Fig.5

Centre-tap circuit :

Bridge circuit :

This shows that for the same d.c. output voltage, PIV of bridge circuit is half
that of centre-tap circuit. This is a distinct advantage of bridge circuit.

Q19. The four diodes used in a bridge rectifier circuit have forward resistances which may be
considered constant at 1Ω and infinite reverse resistance. The alternating supply voltage is 240 V
r.m.s. and load resistance is 480 Ω. Calculate (i) mean load current and (ii) power
dissipated in each diode.
Solution :

Q20. The bridge rectifier shown in Fig. 6 uses silicon diodes. Find (i) d.c.
output voltage (ii) d.c. output current. Use simplified model for the diodes
 Fig.6

Solution :
The conditions of the problem suggest that the a.c voltage across transformer
secondary is 12V r.m.s.

Q21. A power supply A delivers 10 V dc with a ripple of 0.5 V r.m.s. while the
power supply B delivers 25 V dc with a ripple of 1 mV r.m.s. Which is better
power supply ?
Solution :
The lower the ripple factor of a power supply, the better it is.

For power supply A

For power supply B

Q22. For the circuit shown in Fig.7, find the output d.c. voltage.

Fig.7

Solution : It can be proved that output d.c. voltage is given by :

Q23. The choke of Fig.8 has a d.c. resistance of 25 Ω. What is the d.c. voltage if
the full-wave signal into the choke has a peak value of 25.7 V ?

Fig.8
Solution :
The output of a full-wave rectifier has a d.c. component and an a.c. component.
Due to the presence of a.c. component, the rectifier output has a pulsating
character as shown in Fig. 9.

Fig. 9

The maximum value of the pulsating output is Vm and d.c. component is

V′dc = 2 Vm/π.

For d.c. component V′dc, the choke resistance is in series with the load as
shown in 10.

Fig. 10

Q24. For the circuit shown in Fig.1 (i), find : (i) the output voltage (ii) the
voltage drop across series resistance (iii) the current through zener diode.
Fig.1 (i)

Solution :
If you remove the zener diode in Fig. 1, the voltage V across the open-circuit is

given by :

Since voltage across zener diode is greater than VZ (= 50 V), the zener is in the
“on” state. It can,
therefore, be represented by a battery of 50 V as shown in Fig. 1 (ii).

Fig. 1(ii) (i) Referring to Fig. 1 (ii),

(ii)

(iii)
Q26. A 7.2 V zener is used in the circuit shown in Fig. 3 and the load current is
to vary from 12 to 100 mA. Find the value of series resistance R to maintain a
voltage of 7.2 V across the load. The input voltage is constant at 12V and the
minimum zener current is 10 mA.

Fig. 3

Solution :
The voltage across R is to remain constant at 12 − 7.2 = 4.8 V as the load
current changes from 12 to 100 mA. The minimum zener current will occur
when the load current is maximum.

If R = 43.5 Ω is inserted in the circuit, the output voltage will remain constant
over the regulating range. As the load current IL decreases, the zener current IZ
will increase to such a value that IZ + IL = 110 mA.

Note that if load resistance is open-circuited, then IL = 0 and zener current

becomes 110 mA.

Q27. The zener diode shown in Fig. 4 has VZ = 18 V. The voltage across the load stays at 18 V
as long as IZ is maintained between 200 mA and 2 A. Find the value of series resistance R so
that E0 remains 18 V while input voltage Ei is free to vary between 22 V to 28V.

Fig. 4 Solution :

The zener current will be minimum (i.e. 200 mA) when the input voltage is
minimum (i.e. 22 V). The load current stays at constant value IL = VZ / RL =
18 V/18 Ω = 1 A = 1000 mA.

Q28. A 10-V zener diode is used to regulate the voltage across a variable load resistor [See
fig.5]. The input voltage varies between 13 V and 16 V and the load current varies between 10
mA and 85 mA. The minimum zener current is 15 mA. Calculate the value of series resistance R.

Fig.
5
Solution :
The zener will conduct minimum current (i.e. 15 mA) when input voltage is
minimum (i.e. 13 V).